Ampules



Sept. 25, 1956 J. F. OLIVA ET AL AMPULEIS Filed Dec. l, 1955 United States Patent Office AMPULES Juan Fernandez Oliva and Felix Fernandez Simon, Havana, Cuba Application December 1, 1953, Serial No. 395,542 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-272) This invention relates to containers and more particularly, to containers or ampules of the type commonly employed to till hypodermic syringes.

In such ampules or containers currently in use, the ampule or container is lled after the powdered material has been dissolved in the desired solution, whereupon the solution may then later be extracted by the hypodermic syringe by puncturing the container cover. Such containers wherein the powdered material is already dissolved in the desired solution are objectionable in that deterioration and decomposition of the material occur on standing.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a container or ampule adapted to be easily fand readily used to till hypodermic syringes wherein the powdered material is sealed oft" from the solution until such time as it is desired to employ the contents of the container, just prior to filling lthe hypodermic syringe, whereupon the contents are permitted to mix in a novel manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container or ampule of the type commonly employed to fill hypodermic syringes wherein the powdered material is sealed off from the solution, the powdered material being permitted to dissolve in the liquid by simply pressing a exible cover which also serves to later receive therethrough the needle of the hypodermic syringe.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a container or ampule bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and etlicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a container or ampule embodying the features of the present invention and shown prior to the dissolving of the powdered material in the solution;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view, shown partly in sec tion and partly in elevation, and showing the manner in which the powdered material is dissolved in the liquid solution just prior to puncturing with the hypodermic needle;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the container after the powdered material has been permitted to dissolve in a solution, shown partly broken away; and

Figure S is a perspective view showing the invention being employed to fill a hypodermic syringe.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, wherein similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views, represents an elongated hollow cylinder of glass or other suitable material having a bottom end wall 11 and an outwardly ared or rimmed open top end 12, substantially as illustrated.

2,764,157 Patented Sept. 25, 1956 The cylinder 10 intermediate its ends is provided with a restricted portion 13 which serves to retain a rubber piston 14 against downward displacement therethrough, the latter dividing the cylinder into an upper compartment 15 and a lower compartment 16. The piston 14 is provided with a central opening 17 for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The container 10 is rst tilled with the powdered material 1S, for example penicillin, after which the piston 14 is then inserted and moved downwardly until it abuts the restricted portion 13.

An elongated rod 19 of glass or other suitable material is integrally formed at its lower end with an enlarged cylindrical plug 20 adapted to be forced into the central opening 17 of rubber piston 14 and providing a closure therefor. The upper end of rod 19 extends `above the open end 12 and is formed with an enlarged knob 21 for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

After the plug 20 of rod 19 is forced into piston 14, whereby to close the central opening 17 of the latter and to seal off the lower compartment 16 from the upper compartment 15, the liquid, for example saline solution 22, is poured into the container up to the enlarged mouth 12 (Figure 2).

A convex cover 23 of rubber or other elastic, flexible material and having a flanged portion 24 is stretched and then snapped over the open mouth 12 (Figure 2) and secured in place by means of a plastic seal 25. It will be noted that the knob 21 of rod 19 is disposed within and adjacent to the convex cover 23. It will also be noted that the solution or liquid 22 is sealed oi from the powdered material 18, preventing their mixing and subsequent decomposition during prolonged standing or storage.

The container or ampule is now ready for shipment, marketing and ultimate distribution to .hospitals or physicians, and may be stored indefinitely without decomposition or deterioration.

When it is desired to use the contents of the container, it is only necessary to press the convex cover 23 downwardly, as shown in Figure 3, which brings the cover 23 into contact with the knob 21 of rod 19 and forces the latter downwardly, pushing the plug 20 downwardly through piston 14. The liquid 22 will then pass downwardly through opening 17 into the lower compartment 16 where it dissolves the powdered material 18 to form the solution 26. The hypodermic syringe 27 (Figure 5) may then be lled with this freshly prepared solution 26 by inserting the hypodermic needle 28 through the cover 23 and drawing the plunger 29 upwardly in the usual manner, providing a syringe iilled with a freshly prepared solution 26 of maximum potency, regardless of the period during which the ampule or container was stored.

While the cylinder 10 and rod 19 have been described as being formed of glass, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the fart that these parts may be formed of aluminum, plastic or any other suitable material. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that while the container or ampule has been described in connection with a hypodermic syringe, it will be readily appreciated that the construction may be employed wherever it is desired to store two separate and different substances without mixing until they are ready to be used.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the .appended claim.

We claim:

A container comprising a hollow body portion closed at one end, and open at the other, said body portion having a restricted portion intermediate the ends thereof,

a closure within said body portion and in abutment with the side of said restricted portion remote from said closed end, said closure having a central opening, a plug press tted Within said central opening whereby to close the same and to permit powdered material to be disposed intermediate said closure and the closed end of said body portion and liquid material intermediate said closure and the open end of said body portion without `admixture, an elongated rod connected to said plug and extending upwardly through the open end of said body portion, and a eXible cover sealing the open end of said body portion, the upper end of said rod terminating within and near said flexible cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Casey Oct. 30, Greenberg Oct. 3l, Smith Sept. 29, Brown Jan. 12, Lockhart Sept. 2l, 

